Liverpool have finally landed one of the most eagerly awaited defensive acquisitions of the summer and have signed the highly rated French Under-21 centre-back Jérémy Jacquet from Stade Rennais for £60 million ($79 million) with an option for 12 months in the player’s future in the deal if he is to clear international selection. The Merseyside side was able to close the deal in the summer and the 21-year-old defender is signed for a five-year contract at Liverpool with an option for 12 months for the extension. He arrives at the club ahead of pre-season training having recovered from the shoulder injury that prematurely ended his season in February and will be available for the first team.
Jacquet was born in the northeastern Paris suburb of Bondy, the home of top football players, and started his youth career at AS Outre Mer du Bois l’Abbé and RC Joinville. He was brought into the academy of Rennes in 2019. He was in the youth development and he played in the reserve team for Rennes but in January 2024 he made his first senior playing day against Nice in Ligue 1. In order to get regular game time, he was loaned to Ligue 2 side Clermont Foot. Jacquet’s calm, aerial dominance and front-foot defensive ability were so attractive that Rennes brought him back to the first team early to strengthen their back line.
Jacquet’s remarkable performance with Rennes in Ligue 1 and consistently strong performances for the France Under-21 national team at an early age made him one of the world’s best young defenders. He was so rare in his profile— with best ball-playing ability, good physical presence and high athletic speed— that Liverpool beat out all the other clubs to win his signature. Jacquet chose Anfield -- a club with a long, rich history and a great sports project— and it was as straightforward as his decision.
And speaking to Liverpool's official media channels after his arrival was confirmed, Jacquet was incredibly proud of his accomplishments and said that walking into a great club and seeing the collection of titles he had seen instantly motivated him to leave his mark on Merseyside. Liverpool, looking to the future, will be able to build in a new top-tier level centre-back with the young French player to put a new generation of players in charge of their defence and see a new young centre-back who is ready for the next stage of his career in the Premier League.
